Seattle hip hop guide - shows and shops
 
T he Rainy City of Seattle in the beautiful Northwest is where I have settled once again. If you are planning on stopping through Seattle be sure to holla at me too and I should be able to point you in the right direction.
Getting Around: If you are flying in to Sea-Tac airport and need transport to town and don't mind riding a bus then go to the end of the platform at bay 1 baggage level (far right when looking at curbside) and there is two bus stops there. You'll want to jump on the 194 bus headed to Seattle and the bus fare is $2.00. Here is a link to the bus timetables. This bus will run you right downtown via the bus tunnels and stops at Pioneer Square, University Station, Westlake Center (tons of hotels nearby) and Convention Center (next to the Camlin Hotel and Paramount Theatre). If you got some loot and don't mind taking a cab into town then grab a cab across the sky bridge on level three. It is about a 25-35 minute journey depending on time of day. You can also take a shuttle which takes forever but is cheap and will bring you right to your hotel after they drop everyone else off. You can book the shuttle right at curbside once you grab your bags.
» Check the Seattle Metro website for maps, timetables and more bus information.
Seattle is known for "Rain" and we get tons of it. It once rained 93 days straight and can be a little gloomy to say the least but that is what makes the city and its people so unique. Seattlelites are go out rain or shine. The temperature doesn't usually get below 60 degrees most of the year.
Where to Stay: As far as accomodations go, check out Hotwire.com for great deals on nice hotels. The 4 1/2 star option usually gets you the Sheraton, Westin or Hilton (all very nice spots) for about $100 a night. The 4.5 Star on Hotwire is usually the Hotel Monaco. Peep Hotels.com for great deals too. There is also an international hostel down by Pike Place Market if you are budget travelling.
Local Seattle Hip Hop Artists: Keep an eye out for these groups and artists. Old Dominion Crew, Source of Labor, Mr Supreme, Grayskul (Onry Osborn, JFK and Castro), Birdie, Blue Scholars, Bishop I, DJ Sayeed, DJ Soul One (of DVS Crew, Yo! Son Resident), Sneke, Peekaboo, Iosefatu Sua, Angry Woebot, JILF, Vitamin D, Jake One, Bean One, DJ B-Mello, DJ Scene, Boom Bap Project, DJ DV One, Circle of Fire, Massive Monkeys.
Seattle Clothing, Shoe Shops & Barbershops: Looking for gear or some hard to find kicks? These are my top picks. (walking map coming soon.)
Goods - Capitol Hill
1112 Pike Street (near Boren Avenue)
Seattle, WA 98101
ph: (206) 622-0459
web: needgoods.com
(This is the spot for hard to find kicks and urban street wear. The owners are good peeps and big time sneaker junkies.)
Sneaker City - Downtown
214 Pike Street
Seattle, WA
ph: (206) 621-7923
(This is a mom and pop shop with a nice selection of kicks downtown Seattle.)
Atlas Clothing Co. - Capitol Hill
1515 Broadway Avenue
Seattle, WA 98122-3810
ph: (206) 323-0960
web: Atlas Clothing
(This shop carries Stussy, Zoo York, Syndrome and other lines or mens/womens clothing. Limited selection of kicks and has a good stock of vintage gear. They also buy vintage stuff I believe by appointment.
Sal's Barbershop - Capitol Hill
705B Pike Street
Seattle, WA 98122
ph: (206) 860-SALS
web: Sal's Barbershop
(A hip hop barbershop located on Capitol Hill across from the War Room and BMW dealership. Go by and get faded up.
Capitol 1524 formerly Seattle Retro Shoe Store - Capitol Hill
1524 E. Olive Way (Denny Drive cross street)
Seattle, WA 98122
ph: (206) 322-2305
(They specialize in kicks)
Seattle Record Shops: Seattle is a good spot for crate diggin' (remember that Mr. Supreme lives here) but here's a few places that I frequent in town:
Respect Records - Capitol Hill
1315 East Pine Street (cross street 14th Avenue)
Seattle, WA 98112
ph: (206) 320-1111
(This is my favorite spot and has a nice stock of new and used hip hop and a great diggin' spot for gems.)
Platinum Records - Capitol Hill
915 E Pike St
Seattle, WA 98122
ph: (206) 324-8032
Platinum Records
(Largest record store in the city. - lots of vinyl, videos, and pro-audio gear.)
Tower Records - University District and Seattle
500 Mercer Street
Seattle, WA 98109
ph: (206) 283-4456
(Chain store with new vinyl mostly mainstream joints.)
Other more niche shops:
Jive Time - Pine Street (Capitol Hill) & 3506 Fremont Avenue (Fremont) - Collector-owned, quality stuff, pricey
Zions Gate - Capitol Hill (One stop spot for Dancehall and Reggae joints.)
Down Low Music - (Capitol Hill) Has mostly House but also gets import hip hop pieces in once in a while.
Cellophane Square (University District)
Easy Street Records (Queen Anne and West Seattle)
Sonic Boom (Ballard, Fremont, and Capitol Hill)
Second Time Around - U-District (great diggin' spot)
Bud's Jazz Records (Pioneer Square)
Bassix Records
217 Hastings Street West
Vancouver, B.C.
Ph (604) 689-7734
(Nice shop if you make it up to Vancouver, BC)
  
Nightclubs, Venues, Weekly Club Nights and Bars:
World Famous Yo! Son at The War Room
922 E. Pike Street (cross on Harvard)
Seattle, WA
(this is the jump off night of the week every Saturday at The War Room which is in the heart of Capital Hill's Pike/Pine corridor. Hosted by the crew at Under the Needle with Seattles finest DJs DV-One, Four Color Zack and Scene.)
Vera Project
1916 4th Ave (between Stewart And Virginia)
ph: (206) 956-VERA
(see the stranger for the monthly calendar. non-profit organization that does art & hip hop shows.)
Baltic Room
1207 E. Pine Street
(206) 625-4444
(check out the UTN & 360BPM D&B Tuesdays with weekly UK guests and residents DJ Demo, Nitsuj and Zacharia)
Barca Lounge
1510 11th Avenue
Seattle, WA
ph: (206) 325-8263
(nice chill loungy spot with plush velvet booths)
Bada Lounge
2230 1st Ave
(206) 374-8717
(nice loungy modern joint, music on different nights. Thursdays: Bada Bing hosted by DV One and DJ Tone)
Des Amis
1013 E Pike Street
ph: (206) 322-0703
(check out Supreme and Soul One on friday nights playing classics, soul and funk.)
Experience Music Project
5th Ave. and Harrison St. (Seattle Center)
Liquid Lounge
ph: (206) 770-2777
(check out wednesday nights 'Flavas'.)
Showbox (mainly 21+)
1426 1st Avenue
ph: (206) 628-3151
web: Showbox Events
(see the stranger for the weekly calendar.)
The War Room
722 E. Pike Street
ph: 206-328-7666
web: The War Room
weekly club nights - Soul City Mondays with Circle of Fire, Yo Son! Saturdays and Drum & Bass Tuesdays
TOI
1904 4th Ave S
ph: (206) 267-1017
(friday and saturday nights - hip hop djs.)
Radio Shows: Peep Streetsoundz is on KEXP 90.3 FM Sunday nights from 6:00 to 8:00 pm it is hosted by B-Mello featuring guest djs.
Seattle Hip Hop Events / Magazines:
Obese Productions
Under the Needle
Seattle Weekly - nice city guide newspaper
Stranger Hip Hop Events - weekly section written by Sam Chesneau of SHOW.
SeaSpot.com - local seattle hip hop events.
Seattle Urban Pages - guide for city dwellers.
Places to Eat: Here are a couple of spots that I would recommend you check out for good eats in the Seattle area:
Zaina's Restaurant - Pioneer Square
(Bomb Middle Eastern food, best falafels on the west coast. period.)
Mae Phim Thai Restaurant - Pioneer Square
(best thai in town, best 5 bucks you'll spend easily, fast too. (I frequent this place twice/week and usually get the Chicken Cashew 2-star, no onions and a thai ice tea.)
Saigon Pearl - Capitol Hill
Nice vietnamese food that serves good Pho as well as tasty chinese dishes like Orange Chicken and Sesame Chicken. Order with steamed rice on the side and a Cafe Suda (Vietnamese Iced Coffee). Located at the E. Pike Street / Harvard Avenue cross above QFC.
Touristy Stuff: If you are looking to do some touristy stuff then visit the following spots.
- EMP (Paul Allen's joint next to the Seattle Center. This spot holds his Jimmy Hendrix memorbilia collection and has good exhibits from time to time.
- Pike's Place Market (Peep the dudes that throw fish around at the main entrance and get a picture on the pig too.)
- Pioneer Square (check out the Underground Tour, I actually did this recently and got schooled on some Seattle history.)
- Take a boat cruise in the Harbor, Elliot Bay, Lake Union or Lake Washington on Argosy Cruises.
- Go Canoeing on Union Bay near the University of Washington campus along side the 520 Bridge and in the Montlake Cut. Check out the UW Rec Sports website.
- Bruce Lee's Grave site. Brandon Lee is buried right next to him at the Lake View Cemetery, 1554 15th Avenue East, Seattle, WA 98112. Phone: (206) 322-1582. The grave site is up at the top of the hill, follow the road into the cemetary up the hill to the Left then it'll bend to the right and continue for about 20 yards and park you car. The graves are on the right hand side next to the tree. (click to see arial map - Bruce Lee Gravesite)
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